Welcome, Tom!

Though I am a V8 guy, I've enjoyed your posts as we moved from the PAC, to ClassicCar.com, and AACA sites.

I'm sure the viewers here will enjoy reading more about your experience with your '31. Pix are easy to attach, too.

Don't be shy about donating scans of any Packard material you have. If that stuff helped you, it will help someone else in the future. As more items turn up here for pre-war cars, hopefully others will be inspired to contribute.

Packard53 -

Any club's decision on maintaining a presence at Fall Hershey will clearly depend on whether or not they are getting enough bank for their buck. If they are going there in hopes of member recruitment and merchandise sales, a lot depends on the people attending the greater event.

As someone who used to go to Fall Hershey almost every year, for over 25 years, I can say it's getting too expensive for the Average Joe to attend.

In addition to hotels and motels that double their rates for the event, the high price of gas (which is still almost double what is the last time I went) and declining incomes (thanks to outsourcing good paying jobs in favor of exploiting cheap labor overseas) don't help. Then, PA is (for the umpteenth time) talking about making a toll road out of I80.

Parking is a real sore spot for me, with HERCO charging top $$$ to park in what amounts to bottom land. Last time I went to Fall Hershey, it was about double the parking/gate fee for large events in the Penn-Ohio area. What HERCO charges might seem reasonable to someone who can afford to live and work in the NYC-Philly-DC corridor, but it's no bargain to the working class.

Seems like all the nearby landowners who used to charge less to park on their fields got bought up by HERCO over the years. I have parked up at the school up on the hill on show day, but as I get older, getting back to the car is tough on the legs at the end of a long day. On the plus side, I heard they the Yellow field went away this past year and the land reverted back to parking for the event.

I've lost a lot of interest in Hershey in recent years. All things considered, regardless of the weather forecast for the event itself, I don't even think about going to Fall Hershey if it's been raining in the weeks leading up to the event.

Well if the well heeled members of the CCCA find Hershey too expensive I guess I won't be going soon! Same with the PAC Meets in my opinion.

Just got my issue of the CCCA Bulletin for january 2007.
While reading this current issue there was a paragraph that caught my interest. On page 7 listed under old business.

HERSHEY REPORT

Joe Malaney reporting, Expenses for CCCA at Hershey were $6,344.50. Donations for the food amounted to $758.00 for a
net cost of $5,586.60. A discussion by the CCCA board indicated that we should for areas to save money. The CCCA board will revisit the CCCAhershey presence in February.

After reading that little piece of news, makes you wonder if other clubs might consider Fall Hershey is getting to expensive.

I know that after paying the parking fee and were they parked us at this last year I wasn't to happy. Glad the grandson and I took my 4 wheel drive pickup that day. if I would have had a car never would have attempted to park were they parked us.

Three pints in honor of Brad Berry and Jack Harlin


John F. Shireman

The (56?) pan has a flat stamped at 45 degrees at the very front of the pan. (55?) is simply rounded. I've not yet determined which pan is which in terms of years. My 56 very original Exec has the flat at the front of the pan.
Also, at the front of the pan is a reenforcement strap across the two front most bolts. In some pans it is spotwelded to the pan. On my 56 Exec pan it is held in place by the bolts. Supposedly, there is a LATE 56 pan with a subtle expansion at the rear most corner to accomodate the plug for the pressure relief valve of the pump.
I have one of each pan described above EXCEPT the alleged LATE 56 pan.

As far as I know, just a couple of dimples in one of the years, that wasn't present on the other. I DO know that a Hudson pan will NOT work at all!

Keith, yes, I could drill and tap to the next larger size, 11/16 or 3/4 and then search for a copper washer to fit as a seal. I do not choose to do that. A machinist friend says he has the proper drill bit, heli-coil tap and helicoil and will be dropping it off today. I can buy a good used oil pan from Mike D. for what they want for the heli-coil kit and bit.
I am going to try the heli-coil. If that doesn't work I will try to replace the bung. If that doesn't work I will buy a pan from Mike.
What is the difference between 55 and 56 oil pans? Does anyone know?
YFAM

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it!

Hi All,

Figured I login in here also to see what is going on here. As I can see Kev you have done some great work here. Now only if we can get some more PRE-WAR guys to donate some materials. I don't have much on my end for material to donate I just have a service Manual (which is not really for my year but at least I have some guide for fixing things) and a Parts guide which at least is for my year.

Kev and others keep up the good work you have here. It sure goes along way for others like me that don't have much to go on.

THANKS
Tom

Instead of replacing the tapping plate just drill (using succesively larger drill bits) to the next metric or fractional plug size. That way u do not have to remove the pan Grease the end of the drill bit each time to capture the chips. It's EZ to Magnetize the drill bit too if u want to. I've used this process many many times on various similar situations.

Do u absolutely - positively HAVE to have an original Packard drain plug at that point for some reason??? If so, i'd like to know why.